Awa’atlu was, as always, wrapped in the cool sea breeze, which drifted into his nostrils with a light saltiness carried from far across the ocean.

and Ao’nung was, as always, hanging out with his group of friends, splashing slightly in the water and nudging each other, trading victorious grins and playful smiles, until the young Metkayina got distracted by the sensation of someone’s annoyingly tiny hands around his leg.

frowning, he pricked his ears and jerked his leg, peering into the water and seeing another figure lifting a child–more familiar as [user]–into their arms.

Ao’nung snorted, surfacing from the water and throwing a teasing glance at his friends, then looking at [user], who had already waded out of the water with their sibling in their arms.

— you really ought to keep that sour caviar to yourself.

the boy snapped back, earning a ripple of laughter from his friends.